140 CANADA LYNX. 



out inconvenience. The precarious life led by beasts of prey, in fact 

 makes this a wise provision of Nature, but for which many would no 

 doubt soon perish, as occasionally several days may pass without their 

 being able to secure a hearty meal. 



The Lynx we have just mentioned, when a dog approached the cage in 

 which it w^as confined, drew back to the farthest part of it, and with open 

 jaws spit forth like a cat at the intruder. We often admired the brilliancy 

 of its large eyes, when it glared at us from a corner of its prison. 

 When lulled, it was extremely poor, and we found that one of its legs had 

 been broken, probably by a rifle-ball, some considerable time previous 

 to its having been captured, as the bone was united again pretty firmly ; 

 it was in other respects a fine specimen. 



When alarmed, or when pursued, the Canada Lynx leaps or bounds 

 rapidly in a straight direction, from the danger ; and takes to a tree if 

 hard pressed by the dogs. It is very strong, and possessing remarkably 

 large and powerful fore-legs and claws, is able to climb trees of any size, 

 and can leap from a considerable height to the ground w ithout feeling the 

 jar, alighting on all four feet at the same instant, ready for fiight or bat- 

 tle. If dislodged from a tree by the hunter, it is instantly surrounded by 

 the dogs, in which case it strikes with its sharp claws and bites severely. 

 In crossing the Petersburg mountains east of Albany, more than 

 thirty years ago, we procured from a farmer a male Lynx, the 

 measurement of which was taken at the time, and ha.s just been given 

 by us, (see p. 138.) It had been killed only half an hour before, and 

 was in very fine order. The farmer stated that in hunting for the 

 ruffed grouse, his dog had started this Ljnx from a thicket of laurel 

 bushes ; it made no doublings, but ran about a quarter of a mile 

 up the side of a hill, pursued by the dog, when it ascended a tree, 

 on which he shot it ; it fell to the ground quite dead, after having 

 hung for some time suspended from a branch to which it clung 

 with great tenacity until life was extinct. 



It has been stated that the Canada Lynx, " is easily destroyed by a 

 blow on the back, -with a slender stick;" this we are inclined to 

 think a mistake, never having Avitnessed it, and judging merely by 

 the activitj' and strength manifested by the animal, although we agree 

 with the farther remarks of the same viTiter, " that it never attacks 

 man." This indeed is a remark applicable to nearly all the beasts 

 of prey in our country, except in extreme cases of hunger or desperation. 

 It is said by Dr. Richakdson, that the Canada Lynx " swims well, and 

 will cross the arm of a lake two miles wide " — this is a habit which 

 is also shared by the more southern species. (Lynx ruftis.) 



